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Monday, March 11, 2013

Making the Switch to Cloth Diapers!

Cloth Diapering: How do I make the switch from
disposables?

by Guest Blogger CJ from the Crunchy Fluff Blog

Making the switch to cloth diapers can be daunting,
especially if you don't know where to start. When many people think about cloth
diapering they conjure up images of diaper pins and stinky diaper pails filled
with bleach. While this may have been representative of cloth diapering in the
past, cloth diapers have come a long way in recent years.

1. Do your research.

Before purchasing anything, take your time and get
acquainted with the cloth diapers available to you. There are many different
types of diapers to choose from including pre-folds, fitteds, AIOs
(All-in-ones), AI2s (All-in-twos) and pocket diapers. Within these types there
are even more options, sized or one size, hook and loop or snap closure,
synthetic or natural fibers, be sure to take the time to familiarize yourself
with each type. Each diaper has its own set of advantages. Some people prefer
to use different diapers for different occasions, AI2s or fitted at home but
pockets or AIOs to make things easier at daycare or the babysitters. Go online;
look for reviews and talk to people you know who cloth diaper.

2. Get your supplies.

There are some things you will need before you start cloth
diapering. A wet bag or diaper pail is essential for storing your dirty dipes
until wash day. You will probably end up needing a few wet bags, a couple to
put in rotation (so you always have one available when the other is in the
wash), a smaller wet bag for your diaper bag and if you use a diaper sprayer
you may want an additional wet bag for the washroom so you aren't carrying wet
diapers around the house.

Cloth diaper friendly laundry detergent is another must
have. A good cloth diaper detergent is free of brighteners, fragrances, dyes
and enzymes. Some people will use their regular laundry detergent with cloth
diapers, but this is generally not recommended. Using regular detergents can
limit the life span or absorbency of your diapers and it may even void your
manufacturer's warranty. An exhaustive and informative list of laundry
detergents can be found here. http://paddedtushstats.com/detergent-statistics/

In addition to these two items you may want to have a few
more helpful, but not essential items on hand. If your little one frequently
suffers from diaper rash you will probably also want to have some cloth diaper
friendly diaper rash cream on hand. Diaper sprayers or diaper liners may also
be on your list, depending on how you want to deal with solid waste. Dryer
balls or a drying rack are a couple more items you may consider. While all of
these items are helpful, they are not necessarily essential.

3. Try [a few] before
you buy [a bunch].

While cloth diapers will save you money in the long run,
they can be a big investment up front, the last thing you want to do is shell
out a lot of cash on a set of diapers that don't end up working for you. Seeing
as there are so many different choices it can be difficult to know just what
will work for you. While it may be hard to refrain from buying up a whole stash
of cute cloth diapers, just purchase a few of the diaper you want to try and
give it a test run before stocking up. When I started cloth diapering I decided
to try an AI2 cover & liner system so I purchased 2 Softbums shells and 6
inserts to try out. While this is not even a day's worth of diapers, it was
enough for me to try out they system to see if it was right for me. If
necessary try a few brands or types and find what is right for you.

If you are completely unsure what type of diaper you are
interested in trying you may want to consider a cloth diaper trial program,
which are now being offered by many cloth diaper retailers. For a small fee
(and a refundable security deposit) these retailers will send you a variety of
cloth diapers, usually a month's worth, for you to try. At the end of the month
you can send the diapers back (after you have laundered them of course!) and
purchase the type of diaper that worked for you.

4. Prep your diapers.

Different types of diapers require different types of
preparation. Some diapers simply require a regular washing to make sure they
are clean and ready for your little baby's bottom. Diapers and inserts that are
made from natural fibers (cotton, hemp, bamboo) will require a bit more work.
Prepping your natural fiber diapers will remove any natural oils from the
fabric which helps to increase their absorbancy. Prepping diapers usually
involves running your diapers through several wash cycles, anywhere from 3 to
10 cycles may be recommended. While this can be time consuming, it is an
important step and if skipped you may find yourself with some leaky,
non-absorbent diapers. Be sure to check if your diapers have any specific
recommendations for prepping.

5. Try your diapers!

You are finally ready to actually test out your diapers!
Don't rush it. Pick a day when you will be at home all day and have a chance to
really try it out. It is best to give your diapers a test run in the day time a
few times before giving them an overnight test. Depending on how heavy of a
wetter your little one is, you may need to experiment with a different type of
insert or diaper at night.

1 comment:

SOFTBUMS BLOG

SoftBums.com is a mother owned and started company. Sarah Van Bogart started this business sewing diapers in her kitchen to get a bit of extra money for the family, now SoftBums ships diapers all over the world!